Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party
Cleaners from across the industry met at Parliament today to fight for a living wage, but the next crucial fight for low-income New Zealanders will be at the ballot box, says Labour’s MP for Mangere Su’a William Sio.

“There is no way low-income workers are going to get immediate relief from a National Government,” Su’a William Sio said.

“Currently the people who clean parliamentary offices earn $13.50 an hour, while cleaners working for public hospitals and those directly employed by schools earn more than $15 per hour. This isn’t fair and doesn’t provide a living wage.

“Workers deserve to earn a wage that they can actually live on. We know that many New Zealand families are struggling to make ends meet. National’s 25 cent increase to the minimum wage simply doesn’t cut it.

“One cleaner said that at $13.50 an hour before tax, gives her and her family about $453 per week after tax. Discounting rent, power, and petrol costs, she only has $43.34 left to sustain a family of five and an extended family of many more.

“Labour will lift the minimum wage to $15 an hour to help those Kiwis on the lowest incomes. Labour will remove the 15% GST off fresh fruits and vegetables and remove tax from the first $5000 of earnings. This is a package that will support many families who currently struggle to get by.

“Hardworking Kiwi families deserve a break. They have been ignored by National which borrowed billions of dollars to give tax cuts mostly to the top earners. That is not fair.

“Politics is about choice and National has chosen to prop-up its wealthy business mates over middle and low income New Zealanders and their families, Su’a William Sio said.

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